Harrow or cultivator.



J. GOURTENAY.

HARROW OR OULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1909.

922,671 Patented May 25, 1909.

winesses- Inventor: fig? 1 M I Anomeys.

Tn: NORRIS PETERS cm, wasnmarou. p g.

HARE/OW jIVl QlOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

P tented May 25, 1909.

Application filed. February 6, 1959. Serial No. 476,711.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jorin Conn'rnnar, gentleman, a subyect ot the King ot Great Britain, reslding at Aviemore, Elsies River j I as to allow ot the vertical adprstment or Halt, Cape Colony, have invented new and useful Improvements in lilarrows or Cultivators, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in harrows or cultivators especially such as are employed in the cultivation of lucerne, and particularly consists in an improved construction of the teeth or tines of such inr plements.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a view of a complete cultivator; Fig. 2 shows a side view and Fig. 3 an edge view of one of the tines secured to its support. Fig. 4; is a cross section through the support showing the .n'iethod of securing the tine. Fig. 5 illustrates a slight modification.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and l each tine consists essentially of a flat pointed blade (Z of the nature of a small plow, the blade being twisted in its length. This blade secured to or preferably formed on the end of a spiral of iron or steel rod 6 preferably tempered to a suitable degree of elasticity. At its further end (2 this red is flattened and is curved around a hollow support or pipe (Z. The rod may be secured to its support in any suitable manner, but preferably astaple c is provided, the loop f of which loosely incloses the round part of the rod, while its screwed stem 9 passes through the tube and the flattened end of the rod and receives a nut 7L (and if desired a lock nut by which the tine is kept in position. This method of support gives considerable elastieity to the blade, for the spiral Z) is able to yield a good deal against the main thr" '1 while also the rod can move laterally a little in the loop f of the staple. A number of these tines, say eight, are secured upon a single support (Z, and as shown in Fig. 1, there may be two such supports arranged in the cultivator. As will be seen from this figure the supports (Z are secured the ends in bars 70. These bars are further joined by cross pieces Z extending across the whole width of the cultivator, and to the bars Z are attached metal pieces at which are adjustably mounted upon the main beam at of the implement by means or screws 79 passing through bosses Q in the parts at and bearing the beam or by means of looped pieces 7* so the frame formed by the bars Z0 and Z by means of screws 39. This adjustment obviously determines the depth to which the tines will penetrate into the ground. A further movement can be given to the tines since their supports (Z are mounted revolu bly in the end pieces Z0. A handle 5 working against a notched segment 25' operates links o seemed to the supports (Z so as to turn the lines upward or downward. if desired, the lower part of the handle .9 may as shown take the part of a link o.

It has been noted above that a little lateral play is given to the tine since the end of its support can move very slightly in the loop of the staple. lriloreover the support being flexible, or rather springy, can yield when pressure is applied to the point of the tine and the twisted form of this point assists it in finding its way among the roots of crops. The tine has thus all the effectiveness oil a spring harrow or cultivator tooth while further it acts with better effect as a scariticr or seuliler and it is not so likely to damage a young crop; moreover this method of securing the separate tines to a common rod obviously allows of any one being removed by itself.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the pointed, flat and twisted blade (Z is so dispmsed that it stands vertically edgewise, so as to make a vertical cut through the soil, while the twisted form 01'. the blade, aided by its lateral and vertical vibrating movements renders it very etlective as a scarifier or scul'ller, in stirring up the soil, as above referred to. using round metal rods for the bodies Z) of the tines or teeth the expense of manufacture is somewhat less than it otherwise would be.

it will be clear that modifications may be introduced into the form above described in detail. is has already been indicated it may be convenient to make the whole of the line and its support in one piece in which case the material employed should preferably l e tempered steel. Modifications may oil course be made in the exact shape of the support and similarly the point or blade may be twisted right or left handedly as may be desired. For example, as is indil l. O

cated in Fig. 5, the spiral support may have more than one complete turn. Finally as has also been suggested the tines may be secured in any other suitable way to a common tube or rod.

hat I claim is:

1. A tine for harrows or cultivators, comprising a resilient spiral shank having at its working end a flattened and pointed blade which is so disposed as to stand edgewise vertically.

2. A tine for harrows or cultivators consisting of a resilient spiral shank round in cross section and having a flattened and pointed twisted blade at its working end, and a flattened attaching end, combined with a support for said tine and a staple passing through said support and the flattenedattaching end of said tine and having a looped port-ion loosely inclosing said round resilient shank.

3. A tine for harrows or cultivators comprising a resilient spiral shank having at its working end a flattened and pointed blade which is so disposed as to stand edge- Wise vertically, said tine having a shank which is round in cross-section and which has a flattened attaching end, combined with a support for said tine, and a staple passing through said support and the flattened attaching end of said shank and having a loopedportion loosely inclosing said round resilient shank.

A tine for harrows or cultivators comprising a resilient spiral shank round in cross section with a flattened attaching end and a flattened, twisted and pointed working end.

A tine for harrows or cultivators comprising a resilient spiral shank round in cross section with a flattened attaching end, and a flattened, twisted and pointed working end, combined with a support for said tine, and a staple passing through said support and the flattened attaching end of said tine and having a looped portion loosely inclosing said round resilient shank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN COURTENAY. lVitnesses R. HEYDENRYCH, Ronn'rnoarnn HOLLAND. 

